by Giuseppe Gagliano –
US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order to address violence by Jewish settlers in the West Bank against Palestinians, in response to growing tension following Hamas’s assault on Israel on 7 October. The order provides economic sanctions and visa restrictions for those identified as responsible for violence or expropriation against Palestinians, with the aim of promoting the mutual security of communities, clarified White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan .
UN statistics highlight a significant increase in settler attacks following Hamas’ aggression and Israel’s reaction in Gaza. The measures taken by Biden include freezing the US assets of those involved and banning US citizens from having dealings with them.
The US administration has repeatedly urged Israel to control settler violence while maintaining support for Israeli military action in Gaza, underlining how such aggression undermines peace and hinders the realization of an autonomous Palestinian state.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a member of the right-wing Religion Zionist party and a settler supporter, attacked Biden’s decision as anti-Semitic prejudice against the settler community and the state of Israel.
The United States introduced visa bans from December 5 for individuals involved in the violence in the West Bank.
Since 1967, Israel has occupied Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories that Palestinians consider crucial to their future state. Although the peace process through the two-state solution has stalled, Israel has continued its settlement expansion, drawing criticism from the Palestinians and the international community, including close allies such as the US.
About 700,000 settlers currently reside in 279 settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, up from 520,000 in 2012.
